How I Review Restaurants (Addressing That Myron's Post)

The recent spate of comments regarding my post on Myron’s took me by surprise because of the extremely opposing views of the people who had dined there. The reviews were so mixed that blogger Anton even wrote a post about it and so did Marketman. Both bloggers mentioned my article.

I’m dismayed and concerned about how vastly different my meal at Myron’s was compared to other people. It’s almost like I was talking about a whole other restaurant. I was going to keep quiet about it until I got this anonymous comment last night about Myron’s, which I reprint here:

Honesty, I’ve become quite careful of what you review, Lor. I think I’m captivated by the writing and the photos more than anything. One of the restos you reviewed called Sakae (owned by UCC) super sucks says my foodie friends. The Cello’s donuts were a disappointment too. It tastes day-old even when it’s fresh out of the oven. The latest is Myron’s which got terrible reviews from a good number of friends I have. In fact, a friend clutched my arm tightly to dissuade me from ever going there. At the end of the day, I know that food appreciation is personal… I still love your blog. Will just be careful though …

I was tempted to delete this comment because of its somewhat reproachful tone, but my blog opens me up to all kinds of comments anyway, so I let it stay. The more it sits there however, the more it irritates me, which is why I’ve decided to address it in this post. This is also a good time for you to understand the process involved in posting those restaurant reviews you see on my blog.

Reviewing a restaurant

1. I pay my way In the six years that I was a contributor for two food magazines as well as the food editor of an online city-guide, reviewing a restaurant meant one thing: a free meal. It was always welcomed and appreciated by me since there’s nothing like being able to talk to the chef/owner/PR manager to really get a feel of what a restaurant is trying to do. I also won’t deny that it was a perk to taste so much food.

But dining in this way and then writing about it is not the experience of the average diner, whom I feel is the most important person in the dining experience. People open up restaurants for different reasons, but at the heart of it all is service, which is the sum of the restaurant experience. So when I started this blog, I decided to write about restaurants from the average diner’s experience, the average diner being the paying customer. I want to do my job well, and this means making sure that I’m getting what other people are getting.

I pay for all my meals, even when a discount or the meal itself, is offered to me free. I insist on paying because I want to be able to order what I want to eat and secondly, paying affords me the luxury of being able to be as subjective as I need to be. Hey, if the steak really wasn’t that good, I want to be able to talk about it. There’s really no such thing as a free meal, you know.

2. Dining is always a subjective experienceThe thing about a restaurant is that it’s a different experience every time I go there. Somebody sitting at the next table ordering pretty much the same food as me could well be having a very different experience. Dining involves the head as well as all the senses.

Because I’ve been writing about restaurants for six years now, I try to approach criticism from the role of a diner. As far as judgments go, they are subjective and I have to have a certain amount of confidence in my ability to judge.

It’s impossible to objectify something as personal as eating in a restaurant. As much as I can describe it and critically analyze it in my posts, why I choose to eat the food I do is personal. I try to ”˜get’ the spirit of the restaurant, understand what it’s trying to be, but ultimately, it’s all about the food.

When I say a dish is good, I can only stand by what I ordered. If you order something else, then I can’t vouch for it. Everyone has their off days (yes, even you) and that includes line cooks and chefs. We all have different tastes. And expectations.

3. Why I write about restaurants I don’t make it a point to feature new restaurants on my blog precisely because they need the time to iron out their kinks. Very few places could withstand a review in the first few months. They tend to be inconsistent or they start high and then it’s all downhill from there. New restaurants must be given time to set a standard for themselves that’s attainable, but more importantly, sustainable.

I write about restaurants because I like to eat and describe the food I’m eating. I write for people like me: terribly passionate about food, almost to a fault; and willing to have an open mind about food. I aim high and talk about the things that interest me in a restaurant. The resulting article in my blog is my way of sharing my experience, whether it was good or bad.

The bottom line I believe that diners should have their own opinions based on their own needs and preferences. And this is why that anonymous comment above irked me so. I’m irritated by people who don’t go to a restaurant just because other people tell them not to. What are you, a puppet who only eats where everybody else does? This attitude of being scared off by negative reviews cuts directly against your chances of enjoying yourself at any restaurant. You will only be the hungrier for it.

1. It’s your blog, your space to do what you want. Because it’s widely read and shared, it has more of an impact than others. However, it still is your domain.

2. Reviewing anything, a book, a piece of furniture, clothing, and especially food, is highly subjective. Most of us may agree that something is tasty or at least edible, but when it gets to certain discriminating palates, then it’s to each his own. One person may find a dish saltier than their neighbor, and others are more discerning about aroma or the ambience of a restaurant. No one is the final arbiter.

I think the anonymous commentor should, 1) be upfront about who he/she is; 2) realize that each experience should be enjoyed or disliked for that moment, and not compared to what someone else has gone through; 3) deal with it on their own and not pass blame. They didn’t pay you to review Myron’s and elicit a favorable response, thereby making them want to go and pay good money for a meal they didn’t enjoy. There’s no money back guarantee with a blog.

If the commentor is a good friend of yours, Lori, then I hope they get to share what they really wanted to say to you (it’s the pop psychologist in me that’s saying this of course), but otherwise, let the water run off your back. You have friends, fans, and heck, your biggest critic (Boo), who enjoy your words, photos, recommendations, suggestions, and your joie de vivre. Just toss that short hair of yours!

In Defense of a Food Blogger Lori, I read your blog on Myron’s and wanted to check it out. Before I could do this, a friend of my brother’s randomly sent him a text message saying how horrible the food was at that restaurant. Since I am a quasi-vegetarian and not really a fan of red meat, I did not try the Myron’s anymore. You are providing a great service by reviewing restaurants with a candor unknown to Filipinos, while paying out of your own pocket. Thank you! I lived in New York for 9 years and ate at innumerable restaurants running the gamut from your “dirt cheap eats” on the street corner to “full-on wine dinners” at places as lavish as Gramercy Tavern, Bouley, Daniel, Babbo, Vong etc. When I was making decisions where to eat or what restaurant to recommended to friends who wanted a meal out, I always consulted A VARIETY OF SOURCES. Even Ruth Reichl, who is the demi-goddess amongst American food critics, DOESN’T ALWAYS GET IT RIGHT ACCORDING TO TINA VITAS’ TASTE BUDS. At the end of the day, it’s what I think is good that matters to me, period. I am grateful for your reviews, comments both positive and negative and suggestions but have a mind of my own. If I listen to your good review of a restaurant, I listen to it knowing that I will agree with you sometimes and disagree with you other times. That doesn’t make you a lesser food reviewer because you don’t get it 100% of the time, based on my personal judgement. The mantra for people who consult your blog should be: READ THE REVIEW, EAT AT YOUR OWN RISK AND MAKE UP YOUR OWN MIND. Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder……

I’ve had experiences where I was in a restaurant with a group of friends, and my sister was in the exact same restaurant with another group at the exact same time. I ended up loving the restaurant, she ended up hating it.

Agree with you that dining out is a purely subjective and personal experience. What readers of reviews should realize is that there is no gospel truth in reviews — take what is useful to you.

I’m sorry, but I just couldn’t help reacting to your friend’s comment that you excerpted in this entry. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from all the darn philosophy classes I’ve taken–I’ve had many, believe me–it’s that NOBODY has the monopoly of truth. And that goes for everything, most especially for food and dining. Our experiences of dining can vary greatly. You’re actually doing so many people a service by putting your own opinion out there, and helping other people form opinions about something as well. An earlier commenter said: “No one is the final arbiter” of what tastes good. I agree wholeheartedly.And, on a lighter note, I think that Cello’s donuts are dee-lish too, and everyone I’ve introduced it to agrees with me. 🙂

Oops, my bad. I was reacting badly to the anonymous comment you quoted in this entry. 😀 By the way, has it occured to you that someone or some people are actually doing this to give Myron’s a bad rep? I looked at marketman’s entry and at least one of the vocal anti-Myron’s commenters was the same as an anti-Myron’s commenter on your blog. Just a shot to the moon.

I really wish the one who dropped the comment had the guts to identify him/herself; the same goes for the anonymous comment that I see on this post. Too afraid to own up to what they say? Still, it’s his/her opinion, and s/he’s entitled to it.

In the same way, your blog content is your own opinion, too, and you have the right to say what you feel about a particular restaurant.

I’m pretty much the same way. Some people gush about Sonya’s Garden in Tagaytay; I feel it’s slightly overrated. But, that’s my opinion, and I know others will disagree.

I also agree that a review is a subjective thing, and people who read your restaurant reviews should not blame you for liking a particular restaurant and disliking another. It’s not your fault that that’s the way things are.

On an aside, Cello’s donuts are always a good buy, because of their moist, sweet taste. I’m not sure if anonymous tasted the same donut.

Wow, what nerve of the above anonymous commenter to touch on credibility! I say identify yourself! If you don’t like what you read, read elsewhere. Respect the blogger’s opinions. Lori, these are really annoying people who shouldn’t even be allowed to visit your blog. I sure hope there’s a way to block them from the site!

Anonymous blogger is right SAKAE SUSHI SUCKS !!!!! Will never set foot on that resto again, even if the meal was free. But I do agree with you that you have been subjective about your reviews and that people but then you can’t please everybody!

I think you should just disable anonymous posts on your blog. 🙂 People should be willing to stand by their comments, both negative and positive. It’s annoying how all the negative posts on this topic are anonymous. 🙂

i’m not an anonymous poster so i guess that doesn’t make me a bad guy eh? ^_^ i do think that one particular thing of interest is that whether owners of restaurants actually meet diners and realize they are foodies who will therefore be declaring their resto with either a thumbs up or down sign. i also do agree that it’s a matter of taste (une de affaire de gout anybody?) and preferences, and i also agree that anonymous posters who may be expressing a statement critical to the blogger should therefore introduce themselves so their presence is properly acknowledged, and a proper, mature discussion for all (renowned foodies who conduct reviews or plain mahilig kumain ng kahit na ano people like me) to consider.

anyhow, i have been a lurker in lori’s, anton’s, and mm’s blogs for some time now, and have been faithfully browsing through their archives in search for thoughts and views on food, lifestyle, travel, but regardless of whether i agree with them or not, i appreciate the existence of these blogs who provide valuable info on what’s new, things i can try as well. and when i do disagree with their reviews, i never posted a comment criticizing their reviews because, simply put, their tastes must be different from mine. ^_^

i also didn’t like myron’s, but i enjoy your blog. that anonymous post kasi seemed to take it against you that you liked myron’s. eh different people just have different tastes eh. he or she wasn’t even saying that myron’s is actually bad because of a personal experience, he or she said that you (lori) are wrong because someone else said otherwise. in court, that’s called “hearsay” and is inadmissible in evidence.

btw i do not have a blogger id, and i do not have a web page of my own so, forgive me for just leaving a nickname. i do have an email address though – would that suffice (in case people wonder _ alenabarros@gmail.com).

Lori, remember when I texted you about Bellini’s? I’d read a dozen reviews raving about it, but even after giving it a 2nd chance, I just can’t say I believe the hype (except for the wonderful Orange Cake). Yet, I don’t blame the writers of the glowing reviews. After all, I’ve waxed poetic about restaurants or food that others found lacking.

HOWEVER. While taste is ultimately subjective, there’s a reason some food writers are more respected than others. These people are supposedly more experienced, knowledgeable and discerning than the regular foodie, so we turn to them when we want to be forearmed about where/what to eat. This is probably what Anonymous Poster #2 was referring to when s/he wrote about “consistent good taste” and “credibility.” But as Tina Vitas said, no single food critic ”“ no matter how esteemed ”“ could possibly have the exact same tastes as everybody. Some of the things you love, I loved; others, I didn’t. But I’ve agreed with more than enough of your recommendations to know that if you like it, it’s definitely worth checking out. I value your reviews so much more than the ones on regular media, because I know that you usually go to restaurants without advance notice and pay the bill. And because a blog allows you the freedom to write what you want without worrying about losing advertisers, I know you’re honest. As Tina also noted, your candor is unusual in this country.

Frankly, Lori, I suggest you just shrug your toned shoulders about this. To be fair, Anonymous Poster #1 did say s/he still loves your blog for the writing and photography. Think about it: that’s actually much higher praise than simply agreeing with your opinion! I would MUCH rather visit a site with excellent writing and gorgeous photos whose tastes don’t match my own, than the other way around. But since you manage to give me the best of both worlds, lucky me! 😉

P.S. I have to admit, though, I’m bothered with the way some people have attacked the anonymous posters. It’s a very Pinoy thing to show loyalty by putting down anyone who dissents. But to do so would discourage posters who disagreed with you ”“ how boring would *that* be?! Personally, I enjoy reading the readers’ comments so I can get different points of view. In the case of Myron’s for example, if all I’d read were your and Marketman’s entries, I might have set myself up for a major disappointment. But because others had said they’d hated it, at least I know to lower my expectations if I go. Same thing with Sakae Sushi. Cello’s, despite lukewarm reviews from others, I ADORED. 😛

These are great conversations you are having Lori. This is what blogs are all about and it is where everyone’s opinion counts including the known and the anonymous.

I’m really not concerned about the negative reactions because it is part of blogging. What I’m concerned about is how the name of Mon’s Father-in-Law, Myron, continues to get dragged into all of this. I was planning to react in my blog but I decided that I’ll keep just keep quiet after this comment.

So you enjoy one too many places other people find crappy, so what? It only says to me that you are a true foodie, Lori. You are able to see the good things others can’t. That’s a quality I admire because it’s just so easy (and it is seems it is actually in vogue these days) to be bitchy and declare hastily that you hate something. You have a certain joie de vivre others should aspire for. To be sure there were foods you featured that I do not like, but the way you write about them makes me envy you that you enjoy them and I don’t! haha!

BTW, did I read that right? One of the commenters wrote that there is actually a chain text message going around dissuading people from going to Myron’s?!? Jeez! So much hatred for a restaurant, it’s baffling.

I’d be more wary of rants rather than raves. After all, it’s so much easier to complain.

Lori – I’ve seen this happen too many times on blogs, where someone raises objections about an opinion expressed, and although it’s in the spirit of free press and all, I think people forget that EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT (which goes back to your argument about subjectivity). Why not just agree to disagree?

People just need to chill out. It’s just a restaurant, good/bad food and all. It’s not like Myron’s is threateaning world peace, or that their food is cancer-inducing.

Lori – it’s your blog and I say DO WHAT YOU WILL WITH IT. “Don’t let the bastards bring you down.”

Yes, everyone does have his/her own opinion. Mr. Anonymous might just have expressed his/her opinion in a slightly abrasive way (intentionally or not, I don’t know).

But I do agree with Katrina about how people are jumping all over Mr. Anonymous’ case about one comment. Yes, he/she could’ve phrased his/her comment better, but it’s no reason for everyone else to overreact. I’m sure Lori already knows that she is entitled to write whatever she wants AND that ALOT of people respect her opinions (myself included). Let’s all just agree that there will be times when we should simply agree to disagree. There’s no need to attack Mr. Anonymous for voicing out his/her opinion as much as there’s no need for Mr. Anonymous to attack Lori’s or our opinions.

On a different note (and to prove our ever varying opinions), I personally liked Sakae Sushi. While their food didn’t taste extraordinary, and they do overcharge a bit… I like how they’re trying to start something new, innovative and different. And oh yeah, I also didn’t like Cello’s. Hehehehe…

hi lori, i’m a big fan of your blog. no point getting annoyed or angry over. like what everyone else said, you cant please anyone and tastebuds are really very subjective, so is personal preferences. its so wrong to judge people this way. even though your reviews dont tally with their experiences, that doesnt make you a bad blogger. i don’t see to need to clarify things like you pay your way etc but since you did, i just hope its a good decision.

continue blogging, and giving great restaurant reviews. tho’ i’m not filipino and cannot try out the restaurants that you mentioned, i’m sure the rest will benefit from them.

Hi, I just wanted to clarify for the person who is bothered by the “attacks on negative comments” that it’s not the nature of the comments that I am against, but the fact that they are anonymous. Open dialogue is definitely a good thing, but hiding under anonymity is not because people cannot rebut or discuss things properly. It’s easy enough not to be “anonymous” despite not having a blogger account or any other blog, for that matter. 🙂

My apologies for sounding a little snarky. Yes, I jumped on the anonymous commenters, but, like firefly|zephyr, I’m reacting more to the anonymous nature of the comments, rather than the actual content of the comments, which is fine, because everybody is entitled to his or her own opinion.

I agree with food/tastes being very subjective. I don’t agree with this line:

“I’m irritated by people who don’t go to a restaurant just because other people tell them not to. What are you, a puppet who only eats where everybody else does?”

It would highly depend on who tells me not to go eat where. If it were family or friends or people I think I share similar tastes with, then I think it would actually be in my best interest not to– I prefer spending my money in what could be a good restaurant, rather than resto where people I know warn me about ‘bad food’ or ‘horrible service’. I hardly think that that would make anyone a puppet. It’s not going with the uso (because of a sudden jump in raves about a new place), rather, it’s the hope for value for money where you eat.

I read several blogs, some of them are quite opinionated and the commentors are just as vocal (verbal?) in their posts. What I appreciate is that all of them agree to disagree, stay civil even in dissent, and rarely stay anonymous.

This is why i don’thave a blog, because i know anonymous entities will shoot me down for my fondness for oishi wasabi-flavored potato chips : ) wow 30 something comments in less than 24 hours, must be a new record for the blog –K

one thing this BROUHAHA caused is me wanting to try out myron’s and sakae. unlike some people out there who have to rely on other people’s opinion because they cannot decide for themselves where to get their grub, i would like to use my brain cells and have an opinion.

you shouldn’t feel sorry and feel the need to explain your love for what you do, how you do it, and how you assess your food.

i read your blog because it is honest and creative. since reading your blog, i actually think i’ve become more open-minded on how i assess the food that i cook and eat, and i feel more ‘tuned-in’ to what i like and dislike in food. in general, that is the value that i get from reading reviews.

however, like how our tastes differ, other people can also choose to treat information from reviews differently. just let them be.

“And this is why that anonymous comment above irked me so. I’m irritated by people who don’t go to a restaurant just because other people tell them not to. What are you, a puppet who only eats where everybody else does?”

~~~~Why so crass?

Hmmm, you were hurt, I could tell.

I kinda agree with angel.

I love your blog to death.

But calling people who don’t agree with your views “puppets” of others just doesn’t sound right. esp. when he/she is a lover of your blog.

anonymous wrote this: “At the end of the day, I know that food appreciation is personal… I still love your blog. Will just be careful though …”

and then lori, you wrote this:“I’m dismayed and concerned about how vastly different my meal at Myron’s was compared to other people. It’s almost like I was talking about a whole other restaurant.”

but as conclusion, lori you wrote this:“I believe that diners should have their own opinions based on their own needs and preferences.”

and then the blow:“I’m irritated by people who don’t go to a restaurant just because other people tell them not to. What are you, a puppet who only eats where everybody else does?”~~~~so why the word “puppet”?

you both agreed that everyone is entitled to their own views. that every food journey is personal. but you called someone a puppet for not having the same view as yours?

~~~~anyway, it’s your blog. just like what the others said, you don’t have to explain.

i still trust your food tastes.maybe i was just a tad disappointed of that teeny-tiny paragraph.

Ok Antonia girl. Now you’re just annoying. You’re another Angel. You are misconstruing the paragraph and taking it out of context just like Angel seems to misconstrue this whole blogspot thing and what lori actually does.

Lori made that “puppet statement” in relation to what angel said and I quote, “The latest is Myron’s which got terrible reviews from a good number of friends I have. In fact, a friend clutched my arm tightly to dissuade me from ever going there”. And based solely, on these statements by her friends, she erroneously concluded and judged that lori has bad judgment in food. Someone commented that such is hearsay. And I totally agree. Angel’s opinion was not even her own! Rather, it was based on others and adopted it as hers.

Now, if anyone remotely connected to Myron’s is reading this, well, take this as a challenge to prove Lori correct.

so why dont you just put a d*mn name, kahit fictitious on your posts?!

anyway, lori’s blogs are her own opinion. i dont remember any articles there that said: dont eat here, or words to that effect. if she likes/dislikes the food, then its her prerogative, diba? nobody told YOU to follow everything she wrote here. then you start complaining, eh ano ba talaga problema mo/niyo at di kayo makapaggawa ng sariling opinyon niyo? why dont you just make your own blog para happy lahat? you have your opinions pasted on the www, and we can read other articles and pov’s. much like anton’s!

so awi, will saturday night be good for you? myron’s my treat? hehehehe just kidding

–Ok, totally off-topic, but…K, I would gladly have anonymous entities shoot me down on my nonexistent blog, if you would tell me WHERE I can buy these chips! We love them, but haven’t seen them in a few years. I assumed it had been discontinued. I do know they have wasabi-flavored Oishi Ridges, but that’s not the same as the ones they used to make years ago, which tasted close to the imported (and expensive)Japanese wasabi chips.

I thought the wasabi potato chips were discontinued too, so imagine hoe happy I was to find a pile in Tropical Hut supermarket on Borromeo (maybe their other branches stock it too?). If I don’t eat it plain, I love it with my tuna sandwiches (yeah, oink oink, can’t help it though… 🙂 –K

I’ve been lurking around your site for months now and I have to say… that whatever that Anonymous poster said… just don’t mind it. You have a lot of supporters who enjoy your site,(just like me!) who respect your opinions and go out of their way to try the stuff you write about.

wait, don’t all go to myron’s. it’s still inconsistent. first time i went there masarap yung seared tuna salad niya was really just seared, second time, it was almost fully cooked na. and their beef belly is puno ng taba. and it appears that i’ve had the same experience as others where the wait staff take such a long time to tell you that your order is out of stock. maybe after six more months, they’ll be better. and maybe by then, less people would be going na, so the service will be nicer. actually during my third visit, their service had already improved.

i remember when north park in wilson was newly opened and was having start-up difficulties. i told my dad that if he wants to pay someone to diss him, that we should just go home then i’ll diss him and spill water at him. right now, okay na sila! consistent pa ang pagkakaluto ng pagkain.

have you all tried yung new north park bistro? bogchinoypi has a, hmm.. quasi-ambivalent (haha, this term is equivocal. ambivalent na nga, quasi pa) review of the place. maybe this place has start-up difficulties also. though if you think about it, hotel buffets usually have their best food sa start nila. when circles was newly opened, they had scallops, sea bass, lamb chops EVERYDAY! ngayon, wala na. i didn’t try circles when they were new though. pero i remember when paseo was new, sea bass din araw-araw. now it’s considered a “special” entree, which is served only in “special” occasions like father’s day, christmas, etc.

sige na, let’s all go to myron’s na para we’ll all get to try the food sabay sabay, we’ll all agree on whether something sucks or shines, and wala ng away 😉

imagine a table of 12 or so loud, opinionated — and lest we forget, beautiful, haha — foodies giving their real-time, authoritative (woohoo!), uncensored critiques of the dishes laid out before them. ang taray, parang last portion ng iron chef america, haha. but more than mataray, of course, it’ll be loads of fun, so let’s DOH it!

Hi Lorie! Don’t let those mean comments get to you too much. Just as your blog is your opinion, so is mr/ms anonymous’ letter his/her opinion. Regardless, I’m still a regular visitor to your blog and take your recommendations as a starting point as to where to dine next 🙂 so keep it up, more power and remember, you still have a great following out there 🙂

The lunch at Myron’s sounds interesting, but for one thing: if the resto owners got wind of who you were and why you were there (for all we know, they’ve been following this discussion with interest), then wouldn’t they *make sure* you got the best possible service and quality — better than what the regular customer got? Then again, it could be your chance to experience what it’s like to dine like those famous food critics… 😉

Don’t food critics visit an establishment at least twice or even three times before commenting about the establishment? This is to make sure there is consistency in the food, portions, service and so forth and so on. They could have a good beef dish but may have a horrible poultry or pasta dish. Another thing, food critics usually visit restaurants incognito as owners or managers tend to provide excellent service to someone who’s about to critique them. By getting preferred service, that would not be the ‘average’ dining experience that you’re trying to establish for your readers.

people confuse food feature writing and food critiquing all the time. yes, the zagat people probably practice visiting a restaurant several times to produce a consistent (and fair)review. here, food feature writing is the norm, where a restaurant can be quite new, you talk about ambiance, service, food quality, etc…i think the beauty of food features would be the established fact that the writer may be ‘biased’ because s/he may have different tastes (if i praised wasabi potato chips to high heavens and you hate it, that’s okay because i have my opinion and you have yours –although some wiseass in Jingle Magazine once said that statement and also said that it’s his opinion that gets printed and not the naysayers :)…now the problem regarding that lunch at Myron’s would be the strange sight of people trying to look incognito (hmmm…what wig to wear…must borrow from Tessa Prieto’s collection…how about a moustache? would the foie gras stain it if i rented one lori?) –K

I can make a dinner at Myron’s this weekend if anyone else plans to try it out. That way if the lunch group finds it too good (cuz the owners caught you guys out), then a second group could back up the results or add to the naysayers. 🙂

Hmmm, wow! What a hot topic! Everyone is entitled to their own opinion I think…but I definitely appreciate and admire people (like you Lori!) who go out there and are brave and generous enough to share theirs. Thanks for “food testing” for us Lori 🙂

As for Myron’s I haven’t been yet, but if there is a “incognito” lunch planned I’d love to join 🙂

In all the years of reading this blog, i say this is the most fun entry ever.

i am a comment virgin and i am breaking my silence to join in the funfare.

no i have not tried a single restaurant featured in this blog but that does not leave Lori a lousy reviewer. more than just going to these places, Lori inspires me to take my own food journey and explore my own dining adventure.

needless to say, Lori is just one of the best blogger out there. Kudos!

btw, i still have yet to try the restos featured in your US get-away. ill let you know once i found the time.

nothing could be more truthful than your last statement. you’re already trolling. we come here because of food, not to share personal or occupational problems. there are other sites for you to go to for that.

korek si katrina: chris that was way too funny, haha 😉 everyone near me at the office looked up from their computers kasi ang lakas ko tumawa 😉

and acidboy, take it easy on shane, depressed na nga eh. sige, shane, if you go to the myron’s lunch, i’ll buy you gelato from pazzo for dessert. like my best friend always says, “ice cream equals happiness.”

anyways, here’s a suggestion, lor– can you write na lang a tiny little post announcing the lunch at myron’s? (mwahaha, nang-utos ba??) that way, organized talaga, and more people can come 😉 and perhaps we can postpone it to next saturday? again, so more people can come.

May I say I’ve enjoyed reading all the comments? I dropped by after several days of absence, and, although I’ve missed the fervent furor, nevertheless, it was still delightful to find such a passionate discussion.

To comment on Myrons. Have to be honest, that when i went there, i actually really enjoyed food, but was little disappointed with portion size of what is suggested in the menu. I ordered fish, and the size of fish was quite small in comparison to the mound of rice. However i went back again, and still really enjoy the food, and my whole family go there often for the steaks!!! They love it!!

hi lori! i have been a fan of your blog and i tried myron’s several weeks ago because of your and marketman’s blog..I have to say i was also very disspointed with the food and the service..we also overheard the couple sitting beside our table complaining out the service..i will still continue reading your blog though and will still try out your suggestions

Food is a personal experience. I may love something. Someone else may really hate it. So what’s new? Once in a while, there are some things that almost everybody loves. That is rare. If a food experience was really disappointing, the late Doreen Fernandez would simply not write about it. She, too, believed that people can improve. So, why cut them up? Loved your blog. Lory Tan

I really do enjoy your blog most of the time and I think your writing style and your photography have improved immensely since I started reading you a year ago. Unfortunately, I have noticed that you are too affected by criticism or anyone who disagrees with your, shall we call it, genius.

Why do you get so irritated just because someone thinks you could be a tad off in one of your reviews? You’ve said that the enjoyment of food is a personal experience so what’s the problem? If you can freely express your dislike or your disagreement over anything, then other people who contribute their comments should be able to also. Most of the time, your fans and friends agree with you anyway and they don’t mind expressing their own scathing remarks directed at your latest source of irritation. It should go both ways, don’t you think?

Let’s be honest. Why do you food bloggers publish your reviews of restaurants? It’s not just for you to read all by yourself. You do it because you want other people to read your opinion, and whether you admit it or not, you want people to be swayed by you write. But that’s just not going to happen all the time.

If you offer up your opinions to the world in a public forum like this then I think you will have to learn to deal more gracefully with people who have a different view from yours. Popularity, which I’m sure you enjoy because you mention the media outlets where this blog has been featured, is a double-edged sword.

hi lori! aren’t you amazed at this outpouring of opinions about your myron’s review? i guess the winner really here is myron’s because your blog got everyone so curious as to whether the food there is really good or not.

for me, the fun part about reading your blog is knowing that there a lot of other restaurants out there that i could try. and of course you’ll never know if you’d enjoy dining there until you actually do. reviews can give you an idea about what’s great to order or what other things you can expect, but ultimately, your taste buds will decide whether or not you’ve enjoyed your meal.

one other thing i like about this blog: the gorgeous photos of food.

i’ll always check out your blog for new restaurants to visit. keep those posts coming.

p.s. read previous comments and just an aside, i love oishi wasabi flavored potato chips too. they’re still available though not all big groceries carry them. what i’ve observed though is that it’s always available at SM supermarkets (branches i know that carry that flavor are centerpoint, makati and north edsa). hope this helps. 🙂

tried myron’s a couple of times. don’t like it. tastes a little like melo’s. parang they use knorr as an ingredient in their marinade. have been in love with steaks since i was 10. my first steak experience was house of minis back in the days when they were in food courts still. love steaks so much i bought a P40k weber grill and learned how to cook. i buy only usda choice (certified angus) or usda prime (if available). the best steak restaurants in my opinion are: red and prince albert’s. my friend is raving about elbert’s so i wanna try that. anyway, just my opinion.